Costco - worth the membership fee?

[Pete99004]

I've been a member for 24 years now - well worth the cost of the membership. No need for the Executive plan unless you're self employed and can take advantage of the programs available for small business. True, if you're an impulse buyer, you'll buy stuff and when you get home, you'll think - what was I thinking?

Returns are no questions asked - bought a air bed mattress set that turned out to be poor quality - took it back over 17 months after the purchase and they refunded 100% - I was flabbergasted! Great place.


Pete

 

[Fishslayer]

The wife & I have the Executive card. The gas is the cheapest around & we get 2% (IIRC) of everything we spend back. We cut back quite a bit last year & still got about $70 back.

When I was commuting 1.2K miles a month for work the membership paid for itself.

Watch out for the jerky dog treats. I've been more than a little disappointed with their handling of that fiasco.

 

[wraco]

We've had a membership for 20 plus years and find it's great for bulk items. . Costco's kirkland batteries are about the best there is. . It's worth the memebership fee.

Rod

 

[quneur]

Another time (in Hawaii) got five outstanding fresh trout...

I like tropical fish a LOT more than mainland freshwater fish. Fried kumu is the best. I remember Tamashiro market TV show. Made me hungry.

Watch out for the jerky dog treats. I've been more than a little disappointed with their handling of that fiasco.

I won't buy dog products labelled under their Kirkland brand. Chicken jerky dog treats is made in China. There has been dogs getting sick from Chinese chicken jerky although they haven't nailed down the brand or the ingredient.

Their new flea treatment is equivalent to Biospot which owners have complained their dogs have gotten sick from.

I have a bunch of Kirkland can dog food (I mix it w/ dry) which I stopped feeding my dog because she's been lethargic since feeding her a few cans. A friend has had the same reaction with two of his dogs. Their dry dog food is made by Diamond. If you've purchased dog food recently, check Diamond Pet Foods website for recall information.

Outside of pet products, I usually buy food which I use often like rice, bread, fruits, meats (whole roasted chicken is a good deal), etc. For other stuff I go to the grocery store for foods I'm in the mood for. The food court polish dogs & soda is great. Refills are free.

 

[blujax01]

I can tell you first hand, after a LOT of research I went with COSTCO hearing aids.. service was great .. backed by COSTCO.. the audiologist is a COSTCO EMPLOYEE not a lease space company.. all in all I saved just a little over half price.. and I went for ALL the bells and whistles including Bluetooth for phone and TV..

Thank you!

And to all those that posted about gasoline, I did not know that they even sold it. And I drive a lot.

The local Costco is about 5 miles from my house and it looks like I should have joined years ago.

Thanks to all for the input. This forum rocks!

 

[Onomea]

I like tropical fish a LOT more than mainland freshwater fish. Fried kumu is the best. I remember Tamashiro market TV show. Made me hungry....

I cooked those trout on a charcoal BBQ - deelish!

My wife, Japanese, points out, and I think she is right, that fish from northern latitudes, winter fish from cold water, are the best. It is because they have fat, so when you BBQ 'em, the fat drips off, and they get a nice moist interior and a crispy skin.

Compared to what we can get in Japan, especially in winter, she does not like the fish in Hawaii much.

Hey! I feel hungry!

 

[Dominus_Lex]

In a word YES, while not everything is the best price in town (so you still need to do your homework), from simple staples (a min. of two cans of salted roasted peanuts go to deer camp) to the expensive (I purchased an Omega watch, at about 40% less then a local store) they have the right price. Keep in mind part of their model is to "add value" to your purchase. As an example they had the same generator I have about 6 months after I purchased mine. The price was about $50 more then what I had paid at Home Depot, but was bundled with the wheel kit, and several other extras, worth more then the extra cost.

Our local Costco sells gas, and we figure we save the membership fee on that alone. As to the upgraded membership fee they give you a rebate of some amount on all purchases (except gas) once a year. Given we use the membership all the time, we get back between 3 and 4 times the extra cost each spring.

 

[TX2010]

The closest Costco to me is an hour away, but I still have the membership for one reason - car insurance. Ameriprise is the actual carrier, but you have to have a Costco membership to get their rates. The rates were the lowest I have found, and have not gone up in several years. I have not needed to make a claim, so I can't tell you how they are in that department.

 

[rcnixon]

We have bought a big-screen TV, a Blu-ray player and a DSLR camera in the last couple of years. Just the TV saved us a couple of years of membership. We buy paper towels and toilet paper in bulk and when we entertain we buy food and party supplies there. I plan to buy a safe when I get back to work and I'll get it there. Their fuel is cheaper than the local stations and propane refills are $11.99.

I don't buy their tires anymore; the tires are specials from the usual manufacturers and are limited runs. For about 5% more, I buy the name brands from a tire merchant and I can get replacements of exactly the same tire until it goes out of production. That's the only downside to the buyer's clubs.

Costco is, as written before, clean, well lit and well run. We like it.

Russ

 

[sierra255]

Just re-joined after a years absence for $55 bucks. We use Costco for fuel as they are much cheaper that most regular stations especially when we fill up our motorhome.

 

[Fairlane67]

I used to have a Sam's membership but moved over to Costco...IMO it's an overall better deal.

I have the executive membership and go there about twice a month.

I may impulse buy now and again but mainly go there with a list of things to get.

I save money and my rebate has always covered the cost of my membership....that's a win/win in my book.

 

[ChuckS1]

It's a shame they don't/can't sell ammo............wonder what kind of a deal that would be, if any????

Probably 155mm and 203mm only since it's a "big box" store...

 

[pawncop]

Love Costco, you do need to have a set list and not fall to impulse purchase.

I really enjoy the wine selections, usually about 20% below. Now as was stated earlier, and really true for the wine section, when it's gone - it's pretty well gone. Have notice a few continuing items but those are few and far between.

I also think the Kirkland brand is a bonus as a general rule.

I have the Exec card and it will pay for the membership for sure.

 

[guy22]

Absolutely worth it. Forget the upgrade. Of all the Warehouse stores we like it the best. Clean, well stocked, bright, good "stuff".

Sams is just a big WalMart, Bj's has nothing I want and their prices do not seem low.

Costco has excellent food items, their meat is great. We buy bulk paper goods, laundry, dish soap , coffee etc. I just bought a Yamaha AV receiver and a a LG TV.

We buy pork loins, chicken, beef, divide it up and freeze it. No you do not buy a whole cow.

Return policy is basically no questions asked anytime.

JMHO: Costco and others is worth, every penny saved if you live close and use them as least every month.
With `$4.00 gas and you live 20 miles away not sure. I figure it costs me at least $8.00 to drive there and back. So if I go once a month it costs `$96.00 a year + Membership fee. I have a Walmart less than 2 miles away.

My wife loves Costco. We have enough toilet paper to last a year, etc... Still not convidenced we save a lot.

Guy22

 

[Thiokol]

If you decide to join Costco, get their American Express card. You will get 3 percent off of gas purchases at any gas station other than at stations attached to a supermarket. And, you will also get a 2 percent on all other purchases including travel & dining. It is paid by check once a year. My wife and I receive an annual check for around $500.00.

 

[JamesArthur60]

By all means do it. I joined the Polaris store and have found many reasonably priced items. I know Consumer Reports rates a high number of Costco items as excellent buys, from vitamins to televisions. If you do join, try to shop on an early mid-weekday. It's packed on the weekends.

 

[quneur]

I have heard two stories on Costco gas. One is from a friend I trust and another from my BIL who works for Shell. My friend is a decent mechanic who stopped using Costco gasoline because he says its dirty and will clog injectors.

My BIL says its Shell gasoline without the cleaning additives. He keeps a stock of additives in his garage for my sister's car. He doesnt use it as he gets Shell gas free.

Personally, I don't use it as Arco is pretty close in price and near me. If I ever did use it, I would grab an additive from BIL garage.

 

[Moonman]

One good thing about the Clubs is that the DOOMSDAY PREPPERS don't have to fool with so many boxes of things. One box=One year supply.

 

[Nygma]

I have heard two stories on Costco gas. One is from a friend I trust and another from my BIL who works for Shell. My friend is a decent mechanic who stopped using Costco gasoline because he says its dirty and will clog injectors.

My BIL says its Shell gasoline without the cleaning additives. He keeps a stock of additives in his garage for my sister's car. He doesnt use it as he gets Shell gas free.

Personally, I don't use it as Arco is pretty close in price and near me. If I ever did use it, I would grab an additive from BIL garage.

I've been filling up my Jeep at Costco twice a week for ten years now.
167,000 miles on it withiout a single engine problem.

 

[walnutred]

By all means do it. I joined the Polaris store and have found many reasonably priced items. I know Consumer Reports rates a high number of Costco items as excellent buys, from vitamins to televisions. If you do join, try to shop on an early mid-weekday. It's packed on the weekends.

Isn't the Polaris store a CPZ?